Joel Quenneville, who is a former National Hockey League (NHL) coach, will not return to coaching anytime soon. This was revealed in person by NFL commissioner Gary Brettman on Friday, June 17.
Regarding that, Brettman is uncertain whether he will give Quenneville a chance if he asks to return to the league. He said, “I don’t know. It’s something I have to talk to him about in person.”
Quenneville resigns from his position as head coach
Quenneville stepped down from his position as head coach of the Florida Panthers in October last year. This comes right after an investigation revealed how the Chicago Blackhawks mishandled allegations related to former player Kyle Beach being sexually assaulted by an assistant coach in 2010. At the time, Quenneville was the team’s head coach.
The official resignation came after a meeting held in New York with the NHL commissioner. Brettman said that “all parties agree that he is no longer fit to continue as head coach of the Panthers.”
At the time of his resignation, Quenneville expressed his sadness at the agony Beach had suffered. “My former team, the Blackhawks have let Kyle down and I was part of that team,” he said. “I wanted to reflect on how this all came to be and take the time to educate myself and make sure the hockey room is safe for everyone.”
Brettman responds to the suspension of Quenneville
Although the NHL did not officially suspend Quenneville, there would be a new system in place if the former coach sought to return to the league. Both require a pre-meeting to define the circumstances that are appropriate for both.
Previously, Quenneville had expressed his desire to return to the NHL. This was stated directly by Brettman in the interview with ESPN.
“He has indicated that at the right time, he will be part of the game again,” Brettman said.
According to Brettman, this is not the time for him to return and that he will need more time in the future. This is because Quenneville’s actions have “disappointed” many people.
In an interview, Brettman said that a head coach as well as any coach has a responsibility to the people who have put their trust. In this case, Quenneville had betrayed the trust that had been placed in him.
However, Brettman also said that Quenneville might be able to return to the NHL, but it might need further discussion to see the appropriate conditions regarding that matter.
Quenneville’s hockey coaching stats
Over the course of his career, Quenneville played in three different leagues. The three major hockey leagues are the Ontario Hockey League, the American Hockey League, and the National Hockey League.
In his coaching career, Quenneville had 962 wins, 572 losses, and 77 ties with the St. Louis Blues, Colorado Avalanche, Chicago Blackhawks, and Florida Panthers. He first coached in 1996 and coached his final season in 2020.
The former coach had more than simply a solid presence behind the players’ bench while leading the Blackhawks. He was able to finish third all-time in NHL coaching victories and establish himself as one of the league’s best coaches today.